Covering device for floor coverings

ABSTRACT

A covering device for floor coverings with a profiled cover ( 1 ) is described, which is provided with a footing ( 2 ) for fastening the profiled cover ( 1 ) in a floor bracket ( 5 ) and a covering flange ( 4 ) that protrudes from this footing ( 2 ) on both sides, and with an optional profiled compensation element ( 7 ) that can be attached to the covering flange ( 4 ) by means of a form-fitting tongue and groove joint. In order to use the conventional profiled covers ( 1 ), it is proposed that the compensation profile ( 7 ) forms a seating groove ( 9 ) for one of the free longitudinal edges ( 8 ) of the covering flange ( 4 ) for the tongue and groove connection.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a covering device for floor coverings with a profiled cover, which is provided with a footing for fastening the profiled cover in a floor bracket and a covering flange that protrudes from this footing on both sides, and with an optional profiled compensation element that can be attached to the covering flange by means of a form-fitting tongue and groove joint.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

In order to adjust the height of a profiled cover to match the height of different floor elements, where said cover is inserted into a floor track in the gap between two floor elements by means of a footing and overlaps the floor elements on both sides of the gap by means of a covering flange protruding bilaterally from the footing, it has already been proposed (WO 03/04092 A1) that a profiled compensation element be attached to the underside of the covering flange to mate with the profiled cover on the side of the lower floor element. For this purpose, the profiled compensation element is provided with an undercut groove, into which a tongue on the underside of the covering flange engages in a form fitting manner, with said tongue being parallel to the footing of the profiled cover. The main disadvantage of this known covering device for floor coverings is that the profiled cover can only be used as a cover for an expansion joint between two floor elements of equal height without the profiled compensation element when the tongue projecting from the underside of the covering flange is removed in a special operation beforehand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Consequently, the object of the invention is to design a covering device for floor coverings of the type described above in such a way that a standard profiled cover suitable for bridging the expansion joints between two floor elements of equal height can be combined with a profiled compensation element in a simple way in order to bridge the step between two floor elements of different heights or to be able to seal the edge of a floor covering.

The invention fulfils this aim by virtue of the fact that the profiled compensation element forms a grooved seat for one of the free longitudinal edges of the covering flange for the tongue and groove joint.

As the connection between the profiled compensation element and the profiled cover is not on the underside of the covering flange, but involves one of the two longitudinal edges of the covering flange, there is no need for special measures to connect the profiled compensation element with the profiled cover to a profiled transition or joint element. All that is required is to press the profiled compensation element with its peripheral seating groove onto the longitudinal edge of the profiled cover. The overlap of the outer groove wall of the seating groove of the profiled compensation element over the outer side of the longitudinal edge of the profiled cover also results in an advantageous equalisation of tolerance so the usual measures required to secure a common firm joint between the profiled cover and profiled compensation element becomes superfluous. Furthermore, a tongue and groove joint, where the tongue is formed by the longitudinal edge of a covering flange, ensures simple structural relationships which permit the profiled covers and the profiled compensation elements to be designed as extruded profiles, resulting in favourable manufacturing conditions by means of extrusion.

If larger loads are anticipated on a device bridging a floor step or trimming a floor covering, the profiled compensation element can be provided with at least one supporting leg on the inner side facing the footing of the profiled cover for transferring part of the load. Essentially, there are two different support options for the supporting leg, namely on the profiled cover or on the floor. While the supporting leg is directed toward the floor in the case of support on the floor side, if the supporting leg is supported on the profiled cover it can engage with a retaining recess on the underside of the covering flange or of the footing of the profiled cover. In both cases, the profiled compensation element gripping around the longitudinal edge of the profiled cover can be sufficiently supported to resist load-related torque.

Simply seating the longitudinal edge of the covering flange in the seating groove of the profiled compensation element includes the possibility of unintended relative movement between the profiled compensation element and the covering flange perpendicular to its longitudinal edge. To secure this tongue and groove joint, the covering flange of the profiled cover on one side in the area of the longitudinal edge engaging in the grooved seat can be provided with a retaining recess for a retaining lug in the area of the edge of the corresponding wall of the grooved seat of the profiled compensation element. This measure provides an additional, snap-fit type engaging retaining connection for preventing the unintentional release of the tongue and groove joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing illustrates embodiments of the invention. In the drawing

FIG. 1 shows a covering device for floor coverings in accordance with the invention in a simplified cross-section and

FIGS. 2 to 4 show representations corresponding with FIG. 1 of different embodiments of the covering device in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The profiled cover 1 of the covering device shown in various embodiments is provided with a footing 2 consisting of two clamping webs 3 extending longitudinally with respect to the profiled element and a covering flange 4 extending on both sides of the footing. The profiled cover 1, together with the clamping webs 3 of the footing 2, is placed into a floor bracket 5 in the form of a floor track in the embodiments, indicated by dash-dotted lines, and on at least one side it laps over a floor element 6 with its covering flange 4. If the profiled floor element 1 is employed to bridge an expansion joint between two floor elements of equal height, the covering flange 4 laps over the floor elements 6 extending on both sides of the expansion joint. However, if a difference in height must be bridged in accordance with the embodiments, a profiled compensation element 7 can be connected to the profiled cover 1. This profiled compensation element 7 accommodates the longitudinal edge 8 of the covering flange 4 of the profiled floor element 1 in a grooved seat 9, producing a tongue and groove joint between the profiled compensation element 7 and the covering flange 4 of the profiled floor element 1, without having to make provision for a special tongue on the covering flange 4. This means a considerable simplification in terms of construction, because standard profiled covers can be used. To prevent the tongue and groove joint from releasing unintentionally, in the area of the longitudinal edge 8 engaging with the grooved seat 9, the covering flange 4 of the profiled cover can be provided with a retaining recess 10 for a retaining lug 11 in the area of the edge of the corresponding wall of the grooved seat 9 of the profiled compensation element 7. As the covering flange 4 of the profiled covers is often provided with grooves to improve its anti-slip qualities, these grooves can be utilised for the engagement of the tongue and groove joint, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

While FIG. 1 shows a simple profiled compensation element 7 that simply extends the longitudinal edge 8 of the covering flange 1 [sic!] downward, the profiled compensation element 7 in accordance with FIG. 2 is provided with an additional supporting leg 12 directed toward the floor such that the forces experienced when the covering device is subjected to a load can be transferred into the floor better. Such a supporting leg 12 can also be supported on the profiled cover 1 in accordance with FIG. 4, for instance in a retaining recess 13 on the underside of the covering flange 4.

Apart from the fact that the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 3 shows a profiled compensation element 7 with two supporting legs 12, one of which extends towards the floor and the other toward the footing 2, the supporting leg extending toward the footing 2 is supported in retaining recesses 14 in the longitudinal webs 3, with the retaining recesses 14 not necessarily having to take the form of a continuous retaining groove, but possibly having the form of single retaining holes, which rules out the longitudinal displacement of the profiled compensation element 7 with respect to the profiled cover 1. 

1. Covering device for floor coverings with a profiled cover, which is provided with a footing for fastening the profiled cover in a floor bracket and a covering flange that protrudes from this footing on both sides, and with an optional profiled compensation element that can be attached to the covering flange by means of a form-fitting tongue and groove joint, wherein the profiled compensation element (7) forms a seating groove (9) for one of the free longitudinal edges (8) of the covering flange (4) for the tongue and groove joint.
 2. Covering device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the profiled compensation element (7) is provided with that least one supporting leg (12) on the inner side facing the footing (2) of the profiled cover (1).
 3. Covering device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the supporting leg (12) can be engaged in a retaining recess (13, 14) on the underside of the covering flange (4) or of the footing (2) of the profiled cover (1).
 4. Covering device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the supporting leg (12) is directed toward the floor.
 5. Covering device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the covering flange (4) of the profiled cover (1) is provided on at least one side in the area of the longitudinal edge (8) engaging in the seating groove (9) with a retaining recess (10) for a retaining lug (11) in the area of the edge of the corresponding wall of the seating groove (9) of the profiled compensation element (1). 